Officers arrested one of them and might later arrest the other after the two fled pursuing officers and eventually stopped on U.S. 127 south near Page Avenue, public safety Deputy Director Jon Johnston said Wednesday morning.

The women arrived at the store, 3350 E. Michigan Ave., Tuesday evening and presented a prepared, fraudulent cashier's check for the high-end lawn mowers while police were watching, Johnston said.

A man earlier called Tractor Supply to inform the store he would be sending employees to pick up the mowers and they would be paying with a cashier's check.

Such activity had been an issue in the past. The chain's corporate security division warned its stores in internal communications about the scam, and the Leoni Township store alerted authorities to the man's plan, providing opportunity for the public safety department to set up surveillance, Johnston said.

On May 2, the Tractor Supply in Dundee lost about $22,000 when a woman purchased lawn mowers with a check or checks, Johnston said. Police have confirmed the same woman was involved in the attempted Leoni Township theft, he said.

The scheme is executed after bank hours so the stores cannot verify the checks, Johnston said.

He is not aware, at this time, of any additional targeted stores.

On Tuesday, officers moved in on the women as the mowers were being loaded into a U-Haul vehicle or trailer.

The women spotted the police and ran to another vehicle, which one of them used to drive out of the parking lot, crossing four lanes of traffic and almost causing a crash, Johnston said. They then headed south on the highway, reaching speeds of about 90 mph as officers followed them before they voluntarily stopped a short distance from the store, Johnston said.

Police arrested the driver, 27, of Detroit. She was taken to the county jail on allegations of felony fraud, fleeing and eluding and driving on a suspended license, Johnston said.

Officers are reviewing the involvement of the other woman, a 28-year-old Detroit woman, who brought the U-Haul to the store, Johnston said. The women left the U-Haul at Tractor Supply when they allegedly tried to evade police in a Kia.

Johnston said the investigation will continue. Officers are following up on leads related to the man who initially called the store, he said. The department will work with authorities in Dundee or elsewhere.

The deputy director credited Tractor Supply's corporate security and employee for being proactive and taking action, which led to the arrest and thwarted the scam.